Hi there
I'm brand new to this forum
I hope it isn't a prerequisite to have an actual "old" gaffer cause mine is just turning 30 on March 8th
Swan Bay is a red cedar over white oak modified picaroon 24'3"on deck with a fixed bowsprit
Built on the beach in the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC Canada(Haida Gwaii), she's cutter rigged as well with a yankee jib and stays'l

She's not currently rigged with a tops'l but I'm curious if it'd be an advantageous thing to do
I've read conflicting comments on tops'ls with most people seeming to lean towards it being much effort for not much of a sailing advantage....
They look great though!!
I've researched a couple ways to do it
Any opinions/ideas?

Hi Toxophilite (now there's a question begging to be asked) I'm also new to this forum. Re replies and answers on this forum things are relatively nonexistant. I might check once a month at the best. Don't know why when it seems England and old gaffers go hand n hand.

I will venture to ask for photos of your boat and rig configuration.

I have a 1904 gaffer and set the topsail only when I have enough hands onboard or unless it's really only going to max out at 10 knots and I've got a decent milage to cover in a favourable breeze if I'm with my wife.

Just for the pure magic of the moment a topsail is the icing on the cake. Downwind or reaching it's a winner on all aspects.

My topsail has a topsail yard of 7.5m and a jack yard of 4.5m so is a handfull to set in a breeze but if it's not too breezy not too hard to handle.